News
Basel Committee highlights resource challenges in stress testing
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision releases peer review of implementation of stress-testing principles; reveals resource concerns at both banks and supervisory level
Riksbank establishes financial stability communication policy
Swedish central bank publishes new financial stability communications policy; supplements the general policy in place at the Riksbank
Plosser says more 'can and should be done' to aid Fed transparency
Philadelphia Fed president urges the Federal Reserve to do more on transparency; says a quarterly monetary policy report should be published
Currency floor breach raises questions over SNB policy
The Swiss National Bank should consider enlisting the help of top-tier banks to keep EUR/CHF above 1.20, forex traders suggest
Asmussen offers ECB's take on Irish path to recovery
Jörg Asmussen says Ireland has come a long way but still has work to do; expresses confidence further emergency support from eurozone will not be necessary
'Heavy' gold purchases expected to continue in 2012
GFMS report says emerging economies will continue to turn to gold as they diversify reserves away from US dollar; "trivial" official sector gold sales recorded in 2011
Lagarde hopes for progress on IMF resource increase
IMF managing director sets out hopes for Spring Meetings; wants to see increase in resources and emerging market representation reform agreements
Norges Bank withdraws coin from circulation
Norwegian central bank issues reminder that 50-øre coin will no longer be legal tender after May 1; urges public to spend or exchange the coins ahead of that date
Malaysia announces circulation date for new banknotes
Bank Negara Malaysia reveals new banknotes will enter into circulation in July this year; work being carried out to ensure “smooth transition” in the country
Fed’s Tarullo sees early wins for dynamic capital supervision
Daniel Tarullo, a governor of the Federal Reserve, believes the introduction of new dynamic capital techniques in the US has improved regulation; says static rules have serious flaws
Sigtarp appoints special inspector general
Christy Romero appointed after approval from President and Senate
Czech central bank sheds 96 jobs despite need to meet wider remit
Czech National Bank reduces headcount to same level as 2006, despite taking on additional regulatory responsibilities
Bank of Lithuania says 90% of population has bank accounts
Banking survey shows high level of participation in the banking sector; central bank to continue “financial education” lessons
Bank of Spain governor warns against complacency
Miguel Fernández Ordóñez outlines progress made in reforming Spanish banking sector; stresses there is more to be done, and that European interventions have merely bought time to push changes through
Bernanke outlines shadow banking reform priorities
Fed chairman outlines regulatory steps taken so far in relation to shadow banking; says careful monitoring and supervision of the whole system are required
Riksbank presents monetary policy report to Swedish parliament
Swedish central bank outlines monetary policy decisions from 2011; reveals international pressures hampered growth
SNB’s Jordan describes task of maintaining franc exchange limit
Thomas Jordan sets out how the Swiss National Bank has been fighting to keep the franc-to-euro exchange limit in place; explains slight slip-up last week allowing some trades to happen at lower rate
Bank of Japan holds off rate change and further easing
Japanese central bank acknowledges "critical challenge" of overcoming deflation, but keeps rate unchanged for now
Bank of Thailand opens representative office in Beijing
Thai central bank opens office in Beijing; third foreign representative office aimed at developing “understanding” of China’s economic developments
China raises QFII quota by $50bn to $80bn
Chinese authorities more than double the investment quota available to approved foreign institutional investors wanting to invest directly into China’s restricted financial markets
Korean government issuers unlikely to benefit if sovereign is upgraded – Moody's
Government-related issuers not likely to be upgraded alongside Korean sovereign as rating agencies place more weight on underlying credit fundamentals
Central banks well placed to deliver on macro-prudential policy, says ECB’s Constâncio
ECB vice-president outlines macro-prudential roles for European central banks
SNB set to keep rates low and maintain floor
Accommodative monetary policy likely to continue as growth slows in Switzerland; international climate and strength of currency continue to worry Swiss National Bank, according to annual report
Italy could face more swap terminations
Italian politicians claim Morgan Stanley's swap termination in January will be a one-off - but dealers say Italy's debt office is subject to other clauses that could have the same effect